Metallic constructional toy



Aug. 10 19261 F. WALTHER METALLIC CONSTRUCTIONAL TOY Filed Feb. 26, 1925Patented Aug. 10, 19.3.6.

FRANZ WALTHER, OF BERLIN, GERMANY METALLIC fconsrnuo'rronn. TOY,

Application filed February 26, 1925, Serial No. 11,845, and in GermanyJanuary 29, 1924.

This invention relates to the formation of a tube which is to beemployed as a shaft, an axle, a roller, a column, a girder or the likein a metallic structural set, to the connecting thereof with otherstructural members, and to the supporting thereof.

When assembling metallic structural toys the parts of which are workedaccording toa unitary proportion and prepared in advance for assembly,perforated for example, it is preferable so to shape the individualstructural elements that as few difl'erent members as possible arerequired, and that these permit of the most varied possible employmentfor the manifold models to be. produced out of the constructional-set.

In the case of the thin axles and shafts hitherto employed forconstructional toys it is a disadvantage that the main shaft in the caseof one model, for example of a heavy steam engine, is just as thick asthe shaft of a governor or of an oil pump inserted in the same model. 7on this account, according to the invention, a shaft of larger diameteris made as a tube. v

This tube is made, according to the invention bybending' round orrolling u a plate of thin metal, in which are provi ed regularlydistributed slot-like holes, which serve for the reception of the hookclips and fixing clips which are specially. shaped for this purpose. Bymeans of these. clips, wheels,

wheel rims, rings, discs, spokes, flat iron bars, strips and otherperforated structural. members are connected with the tube. Instead ofthe slot-like holes, or besides them, holes of-otlier forms may beprovided in the tube, such as round, rectangular or oval holes, as inother arts of the set.

Forthe supportmg of the tube there is provided a ring support consistingof a simple ring with a perforated disc. .This may be shaped round, orangular, or partly roundand partly angular. The ring sup port is alsousable as a edestal for the tube when the latter is use as a column; ora special journal member is fitted into the end of the tube. With suchjournals at both ends the tube is also adapted. for use as a roller. w

In the accompanyingv drawings are illus 'trated various constructionalforms-of the invention and of its parts. Figure 1 is a-longitudinalelevation 9f he tube 0 with'the slot-like hples Z,

cal

Figure 2 shows how flat hook clips a'and bent or twisted hook clips I)are inserted in the tube 0, which is shown in section.

Figure 3 shows a piece of tube'c in longitudinal section, with aninserted flat hook clip 2, bent hook cli f and flat fixing clip 9.

In the case-of the 00k clips e and i there is a notch 6 above the foot,and the foot has projections e, on both sides, which bear against theinner wall of the tube. In the case ofthe fixing clip g are provided,above the foot, on both sides, projections 9 which bear against theouter wall of the tubes.

Figure 4 shows the tube 0, to which is fas- I tened by means of the twobent fixing clips hand of the screws z" the string wheel (rope pulley)laa A Figure 5 shows the same in cross-section. rojections h, above thexing clips 72. the latter By means of the foot of the bent 'bear againstthe outer wall of the tube.

Figure 6 shows in elevation in the upper half and in section in thelower halfthe tube a in a simple ring su port, consisting of 'a planesupporting disc I and a cylindriart m. Flgure 7 is a front elevation ofthis support. The holes n. in the supporting disc serve forconnectingiit'to other structural members. a

Figure 8 showsa bearing journal 0 for insertion into the end of thetube, with slots in the insertion member 9 for fastening it. intothetube c by means of flat wedges.

7, split pins or the like, which are stuck into the holes (1 and pin thetube a and the insertion' member v What'I claim is:- I 1. A tubularstructural member formetallic constructional toys and means forsupporting it and connecting it with other strueturgl members, saidmember consistin of a piece of sheet metal tubing forme 'with slot-likeholes adapted to engage with other structural members, and saiconnecting means consisting of hook clips and eyechps. 2. "A hooki clipfor connecting tubular structural members according to claim .I, thebreadth ofthe clipbein comprising afoot projecti on th' sides beyond.the edge of the c p and being iormed with a notch on ene side abovesaid foot, the Width of said notch about equaL to the length of a slot nthe 'ube said clip I equal to the thickness of the tube wall, so

that the projections are adapted to bear against the internal surface ofthe tube.

3L A vfixing 'clip for connecting tubular structural members accordingtb claim 1, further comprising above the foot of the clip, on bothsides, projections which are adapted to bear against the externalsurface of said tubular member.

4. A support for a structural member for metallic constructional toys,said member consisting of a piece of sheet metal tubing with slot-likeholes ada ted to engage with other structural mem rs said supportcomprising a plane part and a cylindrical part rigidly connected to saidplane part, the mean radius of the cylindrical part dif fering from themean radius of the tubular member by an amount equal to the thickness ofthe metal of which they are com- I posed.

5. A support for a structural member for metallic constructional toys,said member consisting. of a iece of sheet metal tubing with slot-likehdlesadapted to engage with other structural members, said supportcomprising a perforated plane annular part adapted to be slipped overthe outside of the tubular member, and a cylindrical part rigidly)connected' to said plane part, the mean radius of the cylindrical partbeing greater than the i mean radius of the tubular member by an amountequal to the thickness of the metal of which they ally to said planepart, the mean radius of the cylindrical part being less than the meanradius of the tubular structural memher by an amount equal to thethickness of the metal of which they are composed and the cylindricalpart of the support being formed withslots to enable it to be keyed tothe tubular member.

In testimony whereof I havev signed my name to this specification. FRANZWALTHER.

